“NATO is not ready to war with Russia in Eastern Europe”

27.02.2016

A group of military experts produced a report which criticized the combat capability of NATO. Experts warn that in case of aggression by Russia, the most vulnerable will be the Eastern borders of the Alliance.

The report in which experts stated unwillingness to confront Russia in Eastern Europe, will be published by the Atlantic Council on Friday, writes RBC with reference to the newspaper Financial Times. The authors of the study are six military experts, including former NATO Secretary General Dutch Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and former Deputy Supreme allied commander of NATO in Europe, British General Richard Shirreff.

Experts warn about the “lack of progress” in strengtheningthe Alliance, which began to plan after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. The document notes that the key forces of many NATO members continue to suffer from “chronic lack of funding” and “acute shortage”.

As an example, it is reported that of the 31 Tiger helicopter, the armament of Germany, only ten ready for action, and armoured vehicles out of 406 Marder infantry can be applied only 280. As for the UK, then it is, as noted by General Shirreff, “the deployment of the brigade, not to mention the division in a constant state of readiness, will be a serious problem.”

We will remind that on the eve of the NATO Supreme allied commander Europe General Philip Breedlove said that the American army, if necessary, ready to “fight and defeat” Russia. The corresponding statement the General made at the hearings in the U.S. Congress, where they discussed measures to counter “Russian aggression” in Europe.

In turn, the Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the Armed forces of the United States Joseph Dunford stressed that “if Russia is faced with NATO, it will face the full might of the Alliance, all of the included 28 countries”, reports RIA Novosti.

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